Fruit picker



May 6 1924. 1,492,551

R. BECK FRUIT PICKER Filed Oct. 10. 1925 liven-Z07: 722a? 2807;,

x I I $3, a iarn y Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,492,551 PATENT OFFICE. J

RUFEBECK, OF SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT PICKER.

Application filed October 10, 1923.

T 0 allpwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFE BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Pedro, in the county of Los An 'eles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit Pickers, of which the fo'llowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a fruit picker of that type employing pivoted blades which are adapted to be held between and operated by the thumb, forefinger and second finger, so that the device always can be held between the thumb and forefinger in readiness to be used.

More particularly this invention provides a novel construction which enables a more effective hold on and manipulation of the picker by the user and at the same time is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention looking at the side of and showing the blades in open position, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, looking down towards the edges of the blades.

In the drawing, A and B indicate two cutting blades which work scissors fashion, being pivoted together by the bolt 10 or other suitable means and provided with overlying cutting edges 11 and 12. The back edge on the outer end portion of each blade has thumb and finger engagements, the blade A which I term the thumb blade being formed on its inner side with an integral loop C, through which the thumb is inserted and the blade B, which I term the finger blade being formed with an integral loop D on its inner face through which the forefinger is inserted, while the pivoted port-ion of the blades-is held in the crotch at the base of the thumb and forefinger of the hand. Both blades are curved longitudinally between their ends so that the device will cut more freely while being held and operated.

The finger blade at its inner end back of the pivot 10 has an extension E struck from its side and folded back to form a concave surface which rests in the crotch of the hand at the base of the thumb and forefinger to steady the device when used. The finger blade also has a finger rest 14; formed on the Serial No. 667,656.

outer face of its outer end as an integral part of the blade member against which the second finger may be pressed to assist in the cutting action of the blades. At or near the junction of the blades, a stop 15 formed by a portion of the upper edge of the finger blade being struck in is provided which is adapted to impinge against the upper edge of the thumb blade to define and limit the closing action of the blades after the blades have closed sufliciently to cut the fruit stem. This stop also acts as a guard to prevent the forefinger from contacting with the cutting edges of the blades and loop of the thumb blade.

In use the device is used with its bearing E resting in the crotch of the hand with the thumb and forefinger inserted respectively through the loops C and D of the thumb and forefinger blades and the second finger of the hand resting against the rest 14.

In accordance with the patent statues, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the construction which I now consider to rep-resent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fruit picker, comprising, in combination, a pair of thumb and forefinger cutting blades pivotally secured having means for limiting the closing movement thereof, and adapted to be held with the pivoted end of the device in the crotch of the hand at the base of the thumb and forefinger, said thumb blade being provided with a thumb loop. on its inner face to admit the thumb and said finger blade being provided with a loop on its inner face to admit the forefinger and with a rest projecting from its outer face against which the second finger of the hand may be pressed to assist in the closing movement of the blades.

2. A fruit picker, comprising, in combination. a pair of thumb and forefinger cutting blades pivotally secured and adapted to be held with the pivoted end thereof in the crotch of the hand at the base of the thumb and forefinger, said thumb blade being provided with a thumb loop on its inner face to admit the thumb, and said finger blade being provided with a loop on its inner face to admit the forefinger and With a rest projecting from its outer face against which the second finger of the hand may be pressed to assist the closing movement of the blades, said blades having means for limiting the closing movement thereof consisting of a shoulder struck inwardly from the back edge of said finger blade adapted 10 to impinge against the upper edge of said thumb blade when the blades are closed and to prevent the forefinger from coming in contact with the cutting edge and the loop of said thumb blade. 15

In Witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RUFE BECK. 

